While Rolex Kentucky has been dominating our attention, there’s been a lot of eventing action all over the place!

Here in New Zealand the young and junior riders (plus a few older ones) headed to the Norwood Farm Machinery Central Districts event (Tangimoana) where they contested the national titles. Jackson Bovill won Young Rider quite easily, leading the dressage and putting in fault-free performances in both jumping phases. Lucy Turner, from Christchurch, was runner-up on Carbon, also adding no penalties to her dressage score, and third-placed Abigail Long on Enzo did the same.

Greer Caddigan had a great win in the Junior Championship on Gymnastik Showdown. They totally ruled the dressage and added a few time faults. Abbey Thompson on Rockin It was second, Vicky Browne-Cole on Eli third.

In the CIC2*, Campbell Draper had a good preparation for his three-star competition at Taupo, with a win on Mr Mancini: the leader from dressage. Diane Gilder on Your Attorney was second, with Christchurch’s Kirsty Sharapoff on Shoot the Breeze third. A CNC2*+ was also held, with four entrants, Samantha Felton on Ricker Ridge Pico Poo taking the win with the only clear jumping.

In the Kamada Park CIC1*, Mathew Grayling was back in the winner’s circle on Trudeau, with Sarah Young and The Little Prince second. The dressage leader, Karla Jamieson on Westamour, finished third with cross-country time being the big influence.

Matamata ODE

Further up the North Island, the Randlab Matamata Equestrian Group Horse Trials were on and there were good entries. Riders have been raving on social media about how good it was to have a new track and how they appreciated all the hard work done by the committee, who looked smart in their team polo shirts. Dannie Lodder won the Randlab CNC1* Open on Tomahawk from Danielle Wheeler on One Cool Dude and Donna Edwards-Smith on Quantico. In the Prydes CNC 1* Restricted Meg Trophy, Kylee McCambridge and Chicago won from Dannie and Eon, with Georgia Bryan on Piper Bay third.

Great to see so many entries, especially in the smaller classes. The Stronghold CNC 80 21yrs & Under had a field of 28 and was won by Paige Boggiss on Tram Road.

For results in the lower classes at both events, Equestrian Entries has the full scoreboards.

English eventing

Over in the UK many of the New Zealand riders headed to Withington. Neil Spratt had a good weekend, winning an Intermediate on Director General, and was sixth in another on Galway Bay Echo, just pipping Andrew Nicholson on Byrnesgrove First Diamond. He was also fourth in a Novice class. Dan Jocelyn, Jonelle Price and Annabel Wigley also put in clear Intermediate jumping rounds, finishing 10th, 11th and 17th respectively in one class and Dan and Jonelle 13th and 15th in the other. Jonelle was ninth on Ascona M in another Intermediate, again with clear jumping.

Andrew was seventh in the Open Intermediate on Spring Swallows, and Jesse Campbell on Apart VD Hoefslag Z was fifth in an Open Novice. Lizzie Brown was back competing in the UK after her romantic trip to New Zealand, having a canter around in the OI on Havanna Vant Castanaehof, incurring a few time faults and show jumping faults to finish out of the money.

Both Jonelle and Andrew had some of their A team at the event, competing in the Advanced. Andrew was fourth on Qwanzo and Jonelle was sixth on Faerie Dianimo, both opting for clear but slow cross-country rides. The class was won by Paul Tapner on Yogi Bear. In the other Advanced class, Andrew put his foot down and won it on Jet Set IV, and was fifth on Teseo. Lucy Jackson was sixth on Pink Gin. Jonelle was eliminated on Cloud Dancer at fence 21. Apparently there was a bit of an oops, and Cloud Dancer had to come back again the next day for a training session.

Andrew finished second on Perfect Stranger, this pair showing some great consistency recently. Jesse Cambell was seventh on Cleveland in the same class.

So, it’s all eyes on Badminton. Hold on to your hats and cross your fingers that the weather is good.

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